Geological Society of Australia Working with Children and Vulnerable People Policy
28.07.2024
Introduction
The Geological Society of Australia (GSA) is strongly committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and vulnerable people.
Across Australia, GSA members undertake a wide range of outreach and education activities including school visits, public presentations, exhibitions, field trips and virtual events. These initiatives are fundamental to achieving the GSA’s mission to promote and advance Earth Sciences.
This policy outlines the GSA’s principals and processes to provide a safe and welcoming environment for children and vulnerable people. The policy applies to all GSA members undertaking any activity on behalf of the GSA in-person or online.
Purpose
This policy is intended to:
Facilitate the safety, wellbeing and protection of children and vulnerable people from harm while engaging with GSA members in-person or online.
Inform GSA members and volunteers of their obligations to always act ethically and responsibly towards children and vulnerable people
Demonstrate and monitor the GSA’s compliance with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework
Continue to be assessed and enhanced with best-practice guidance
Definitions
Child
Young person
Vulnerable person
A person aged 0–11 years
A person aged 12–17 years
A child or an adult who is disadvantaged
Responsible adult parent, carer, teacher, guardian or other person who is responsible for supervision of a child
Risk assessment
An assessment as to whether a person poses an unacceptable risk of harm to a vulnerable person
Principals and guidelines
The GSA’s commitment to child safety is guided by:
Legislation in the Australian Capital Territory as the GSA is registered as an incorporated entity in the ACT.
o Working with Vulnerable People Act: All ACT volunteers who may interact with a child or vulnerable person must have a working with Vulnerable People Card
o Children and Vulnerable People Act 2008: It is mandatory for a person who reasonably believes a sexual offence, or any non-accidental physical harm has been committed against a child or vulnerable adult must be reported to a police officer
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Australia
o Article 3: making the best interests of the child the primary consideration in all actions, conforming to standards established by competent authorities, particularly in areas of safety, health, in the number and suitability of their staff, as well as competent supervision
o Article 19 and Article 34: taking measures to ensure that children are protected from violence, abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. These protective measures, should, as appropriate, include programs that provide necessary support for the child and those who care for the child, and systems for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of various forms of child maltreatment
o Article 28: the right of the child to education and development
o Article 29: education should encompass respect for the child's ‘cultural identity, language and values’
o Article 31: the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts
The Commonwealth Child Safe Framework defines 10 national principles that are best practise standards for Australian entities to create and maintain a child safe environment. The framework is used below to guide the GSA’s children and vulnerable people policy.
National Principal 1: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture
GSA members are expected to abide by the GSA Code of Conduct at all times. This Code has been updated to include a clause to note inform GSA members of their obligations to always act ethically and responsibly towards children and vulnerable people.
The GSA Safety and Culture Committee will be responsible for reviewing policies and procedures, examine and improve risk assessment processes and raise awareness of child and vulnerable people safety and wellbeing across the GSA.
National Principle 2: Children and vulnerable people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
Where appropriate, the GSA will seek to engage with children and vulnerable people, or their carers about their rights and seek feedback on ways to improve. This may include:
Undertaking risk assessments for all education and outreach activities to ensure programs and events have child and vulnerable people safety and wellbeing front of mind, are welcoming, and safe
Seeking advice from experts, carers, teachers and other specialists prior to an event
Creating opportunities for anonymous post-event feedback to be recorded and acted on
National Principle 3: Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing
The GSA will ensure the community, families, children and vulnerable people are informed of the GSA’s commitment to safety and wellbeing. This may include:
Displaying the GSA’s commitment to child and vulnerable people safety and wellbeing in risk assessments, correspondence and signage
Gaining consent from responsible adults to interact with children
Creating opportunities for anonymous feedback to be recorded and acted on
National Principle 4: Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice
This Working with Children and Vulnerable People Policy is part of a broader set of policies and practices to enhance equity within the GSA.
Information on child and vulnerable people safety and best practices will be provided to members, available behind the GSA member paywall. The GSA Safety and Culture Committee will investigate relevant online training courses
National Principle 5: People working with children and vulnerable people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice
To reduce any risk, the GSA will establish mandatory background checking through the National Working With Children card system. This means all GSA members that represent the GSA at public events in-person, or online must hold a current a Working With Children Card for the state or territory they are located in.
Most states and territories have a free volunteer working with children card. Members in these states and territories can fill in the form and email it to GSA Secretariat via info@gsa.org.au who will then arrange for the GSA President to sign on behalf of the GSA. States who do not have a free volunteer working with children card can apply to the GSA for a reimbursement of the cost pending the positive issue of the card and endorsement by the Divisional/Specialist Group Chair and Treasurer. Please refer to the GSA Reimbursement Procedure. Note that the GSA will not reimburse the costs associated with a replacement card.
Table 1. National Working with Children Checks, legislation and prices
State / Territory
New South Wales
Queensland
Name of the check Link to check site
Working with Children Check
Cost for volunteers
NSW Office of the Children's Guardian Free
Blue Card Check / Working with Children Check Blue Card Services
Victoria Working with Children Check
South Australia
DCSI Screening / Working with Children Check
Australian Capital Territory Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) check
Free - fill in statutory declaration for a fee waive
Department of Justice and Regulation, Working with Children Check Unit Free
DCSI Screening Unit (Department for Communities and Social Inclusion) Free
Apply for or renew a WWVP registrationAccess Canberra
Free
Tasmania
(act.gov.au)
Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP) / Working with Children Registration Department of Justice
Western Australia Working With Children Check WWC Screening Unit (Department for Child Protection and Family Support)
Northern Territory
Working with Children Clearance / Ochre Card
$22.44
$11.00
Screening Assessment for Employment –Northern Territory (SAFE NT) Free
National Principle 6: Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child focused
Any complaints between GSA members and children and vulnerable people must be reported to the supervising officer as stated in the GSA Risk Assessment who will inform the President immediately. Any serious complaint must also be reported to a police officer.
The complaint will be handled through the GSA’s existing Breaches of the GSA Code of Conduct Policy. This includes:
Initial decision on how to handle the report of an alleged breach
Reporting any criminal activity to Police
Deciding whether the breach has occurred, and whether the behaviour constitutes a breach of the GSA Code of Conduct
Internal investigation if required
National Principle 7: Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and vulnerable people safe through ongoing education and training
The GSA will provide information and support to all members who work with children and vulnerable people to improve awareness and skills. This includes:
Online training courses as endorsed by the GSA Safety and Culture Committee
Supplementary material provided to all GSA members that will be available behind the GSA member paywall
National Principle 8: Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and vulnerable people to be harmed
The GSA will use the risk assessment process to identify and reduce any risks associated with the wellbeing of children and vulnerable people. This includes:
Ensuring that GSA members have Working with Children Cards prior to attending public outreach events on behalf of the GSA
Incorporating child safety and wellbeing into standard GSA risk assessments
Articulating the GSA’s Code of Conduct and commitment to the welfare of children and vulnerable people
Reinforcing with families that children and vulnerable people should always be in the care of a responsible adult
National Principle 9: Implementation of the national child safe principles is regularly reviewed and improved
The GSA strive for continuous improvement. The GSA Safety and Culture Committee will keep child safety and wellbeing as a standing agenda items. The GSA Governing Council commit to reviewing this policy every two years.
National Principle 10: Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and vulnerable people
The GSA commits to documenting the commitment to the safety and welfare of children and vulnerable people. A statement of the GSA’s commitment will be articulated:
On the GSA website via our Code of Conduct
On the GSA website via the About Us page
Inclusion of a child-safe wording in all risk assessments, event correspondence and potentially signage on the day of the event